Londoners welcome ‘cautious’ mask mandate

Face coverings were already still mandatory in the devolved nations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Under the new measures, international arrivals will have to self-isolate until they get a negative result in a PCR test for viral DNA.

Commuters in central London said it was right to be cautious until more was known about the new variant.

Retailers in England said on Tuesday they were again asking shoppers to wear masks but said they could not be expected to enforce the new law, fearing abuse of their staff.